Paul Robinson is the former England No 1 who played 41 times for the Three Lions. In his debut Footballers' Football Column, the Blackburn goalkeeper explains the pressures of being a goalkeeper and especially being England's first choice. The former Leeds and Tottenham man says that goalkeepers need to be backed by their manager and Robinson says Joe Hart will overcome is blip and recapture his form and being England's first choice for years to come. Before you read his column, watch his video below...

When you you make a mistake or something happens in a game as a goalkeeper it doesn't just effect your confidence playing, it effects you on a daily basis. Walking down the street, you can see people looking at you and talking about you.

What happened with England in Croatia was the worst moment in my career. At the time you don't realise the backlash that's coming with it. You think 'ah we've lost.' What happened with me was a freak accident, but you get recognised and noticed for that reason.

You can hear people talking about you. Listen, criticism in any form of life isn't good, especially when you do the type of job we do. Football players say they don't read the newspapers – they do. They say they don't watch the telly – they do. Because when it's about you, it hurts. You'd be inhuman not to.

Safe hands: Paul Robinson believes goalkeepers need the backing of their manager when they make mistakes

When you make a mistake, it's hard to get it out of your mind during a match. You've got 20,000 people behind you reminding you every time you touch the ball or go and get it. It's a hard, lonely place to be. It's very much a confidence game. Goalkeepers are very much confidence-orientated.

You get yourself through it by working hard. Looking back now maybe I'd have done things differently after the Croatia game. I maybe worked too hard, thought about things too much. Rather than just thinking 'you know what, I never used to do this, why am I doing it now? This is making me overanalyse and think about things too much.' I should've just stuck to what I knew. Players have bad patches. Goalkeepers have bad patches. You work your way through.

When you cross that white line, whatever bad patch you're in, you have to think it's just a normal game. You're not thinking this, that and the other, you're thinking “I'm going to play well today.” Always keep positive, you've always got to have a positive frame of mind. But if something happens in the game you always think 'here we go.' At the time it can effect you for the rest of the match.

As a goalkeeper, if you make a mistake it usually results in goal. Nine times out of 10 if you make an error it's a goal. If you're an outfield player there's always somebody behind you to dig you out.

A goalkeeper is his own worst critic. Every goal that goes in you think: “If I stood two yards that way, or if I hadn't leant in that direction, I could've saved it.” It's all ifs and buts. As a goalkeeper there aren't many goals that go in where you think you couldn't have done anything about it.

In a situation when the pressure's on you and criticism is coming your way everything feels analysed and scrutinised all the time.

Joe Hart is a fantastic goalkeeper, and he still is. The last few games that he's had people look at this result, or that goal, if you compile all the good games he's had the list will keep on going. Eight months ago we were talking about him being possibly the best goalkeeper in the world. In eight months that doesn't change. Goalkeepers make mistakes, that happens.

Goalkeeper's have their own individual mentality. That's why they talk about the goalkeeper's union – it's a closed shop. As goalkeepers you understand what each other goes through and what they have to do.

Every day we train separately. We've got our own coach. There are four goalkeepers at a club and we'll be training on a separate pitch to the other lads. We'll go join in when they need us, for a shooting session or for a game, but there're two coaches for 20 outfield players and one coach for four goalkeepers.

Still No 1: Robinson says Joe Hart should be England's No 1 for years to come

Goalkeepers have a bond and will always stick up for each other, always look out for each other. If you're the No 1 or 2 or whatever, you'll always look out for each other because you understand it's a very, very lonely position. It's a very difficult position to understand. Unless you've played in that position, and not many have, you can't understand it.

A manager should also support his goalkeepers. The manager should say 'he's my No 1, that's it.' If the manager is even thinking he's not going to play his No 1 next week, he shouldn't be saying that. If he gets that across it doesn't help the goalkeeper.

Error: Robinson is consoled by Ray Clemence after conceding a goal against Croatia

No hiding place: Robinson looks dejected after conceding against Croatia in 2006

Lonely place: Robinson says a mistake by a goalkeeper normally ends up with a goal

They should say he's my goalkeeper, he's playing and wait until the team sheet goes in on a Saturday. If he is undecided, don't say it in the week before because how is that going to effect the player's confidence going into the game?

PAUL ROBINSON EXCLUSIVE:

Joe needs support and confidence. Look, if this happens over a period of five to six months, there has to come a time where enough's enough. He's a proven goalkeeper, he's not shipping goals each week, but everyone seems to be looking and analysing, when there really isn't a need to.

There isn't any goalkeeper who hasn't made a mistake. In life in general, everyone makes mistakes, no matter what your job is you're going to make a mistake at some point.

Three of a kind: Robinson says both John Ruddy and Forster are good goalkeepers but Hart should be No 1

Dream come true: Robinson says he loved representing England

I hope Joe doesn't lose the confidence he's got, the way he's always up for talking before and after matches. He should keep that. He's got a confident air about him. It's not an arrogance, its a confidence. And I think you need that as a goalkeeper, he's got the ability to carry on with what he's doing.

John Ruddy and Fraser Forster are good goalkeepers but they're not as good as Joe. In my opinion he can be England's No 1 for a very long time.

I loved representing England, loved my time playing for my country. It's a huge honour. The players you play with, going to World Cup tournaments, it's the stuff you dream of when you're a kid.